Disclaimer: I don't own bleach in any way shape or form. *insert big sigh here*


Karin glared at Toushiro with her arms crossed in front of her chest. She ignored the prying eyes of the dragons staring at the pair of humans.

"Toushiro, how could you join the army? You're only thirteen years old! I thought the age limit is sixteen, or at least it was when Ichigo joined." Karin continued her rant refusing to let Toushiro speak.

"I mean seriously, even if you are some kind of prodigy that doesn't mean you jump to the army as soon as you can! How could you do this? Why didn't you tell me?" Karin finished her vent when she turned her back hugging her knees to her chest. Karin didn't look at Toushiro so she did not see the look of hurt pass through his eyes.

"Karin, listen," Toushiro began, placing a hand on her shoulder until she looked up at him from over her shoulder.

"You know I would never keep anything from you, especially something like this. It was sudden and Chief Yamamoto asked for me to join. He said that my position was requested by Captain Kuchiki and it was approved by Princess Shihoin." Toushiro paused for a moment.

"You've never even met the princess so how does she know about you?" Karin slowly asked continually hugging her knees to her chest.

"Apparently Captain Kuchiki has been in contact with her, and she was impressed with my abilities." Toushiro explained dragging a chuckle from Karin.

"Yeah, you can be pretty surprising, Toushiro." Karin became depressed again.

"All of this happened the other night. Yesterday I was heading to your house to tell you, but by that time you had run off into the woods." Toushiro explained giving her a look saying 'you should have stayed put'. Karin seemed to perk up at this news he didn't keep this a secret she just wasn't there for him to tell her. Karin's happiness faded as quickly as it came.

"But, why did you accept it?" Karin turned so she could look into his eyes. "Why didn't you say no?"

"The army needed the help. Since they can't send more troops, the captains have been looking for local villagers for help." Toushiro quietly explained but he could not understand why Karin's eyes still looked so depressed.

"Karin what's really bothering you?" Toushiro asked holding her chin when she tried to look away.

"You left yesterday morning to look for me and you found me last evening." Karin reasoned while Toushiro simply nodded his head.

"Do you know how much trouble you'll be in when you get back?" Karin asked when Zangetsu's words earlier that morning surfaced in her mind.

"I know." Toushiro's simple answer confused Karin.

"You left without orders. The army will think you have deserted, and they'll label you as a traitor." Karin tried to reason through her confused mind, but Toushiro looked back at her while his eyes remained void of all emotion.

"Do you know what the army does to traitors and deserters?"

"They are executed." Toushiro's even voice awakened the Kurosaki anger once again.

"If you knew that, then why did you come after me?!" Karin yelled over at him, she was angry at him because of the danger he had been put in. Karin cared about her best friend more than anything else and she was always a little worried when he had to go with the scouts. She knew he would be okay because she knew how strong and smart he is, but this was different. His smarts and strength would not save him from the army's wrath, and there was nothing she could do.

"Karin, it took me all of two seconds to decide to come after you when Masaki returned. I would have left with or without the army's permission, but you have nothing to worry about." Karin snapped her head up to him in confused surprise.

"It turns out that Captain Kyoraku is not such a perverted old man. He made a loophole so that he and Captain Kuchiki gave me permission to come out here. Apparently in times of emergency during war, when two captains agree to a mission regarding a junior officer then that order is deemed official and there is no problem with the army." Toushiro finished explaining to Karin. It took her a moment for all of this information to be processed in her mind but immediately she smiled back at him. She was much calmer knowing he wouldn't be getting into trouble with his superiors now that he had come after her. Still, he was in the army and that created a new problem that showed up in Karin's saddened eyes.

"What is it?" Toushiro asked. He was beginning to think she had hit her head harder than he thought - Karin does not jump from one emotion to the next like this.

"What happens when you leave?" Karin asked hugging her knees to her chest staring at the dusty ground of the path.

"I'm not going to leave." Toushiro forcefully stated.

"You won't have a choice, Toushiro." Karin nearly whispered to him.

"You haven't had any training to be a captain. Before anyone can join the army they must go to the academy in Sereitei - Ichigo was accepted as a soldier in a special case, but he is required to go to the academy as soon as possible. You're a captain, now. You will have no choice but to attend the academy. From what I heard from Rukia, it takes at least five years to graduate and become an official soldier." Karin finished explaining. This news hit Toushiro pretty hard, he knew things would be different but to be dragged away from Karakura was not something he enjoyed thinking about. Karin was right: he would be required to leave as soon as it was safe to go and he would be gone for a long time. The only bright spot on his future would be he could choose where he wanted to be permanently stationed and he knew that one place would be Karakura.

"Yeah, I will have to be trained." Toushiro slowly stated. "But, once I graduate I will come back to stay for good at Karakura." Toushiro exclaimed with calm force.

"You can choose where you want to go?" Karin asked; she was not aware of that little notice.

"That's right, and I won't have to leave unless it is necessary." Toushiro reassured Karin.

"But, that still means you have to be gone for five years." Karin complained to him causing Toushiro to smile at her.

"Karin, the academy at Sereitei is just another school." Toushiro smiled at her, "you know how long it took me to go through school at Karakura?" Toushiro asked smirking at her.

"It took you six years, when it takes everyone else 13-14 years." Karin smiled back at him.

"I will be graduated from the academy in one year. I promise you." Toushiro promised to Karin.

"Alright, and you better be back in one year or I'm going to drag you back to Karakura." Karin smiled causing Toushiro to laugh.

"I know, and I'll write you at least once a month."

"Once a month! We've been best friends since we were toddlers and you're going to write me only once a month." Karin pretended to be insulted but Toushiro knew that wasn't the case so he laughed.

"Well, well, this is another nice moment for the humans, but we are pressed for time. Now, we need to move quickly and we need you to be QUIET!" Hyourinmaru growled fiercely causing the hair on the back of Karin's neck to stand up.

"Yeah, sure thing Hyourinmaru, we'll be quiet." Karin nervously stated waving a small hand at the large ice dragon.

"Why do I not believe you? Perhaps the two of you should take a nap." Hyourinmaru nodded to Zangetsu before turning to walk along the path. Zangetsu stood up straight and lightly shook his body causing the humans to slide up against Zangetsu's shoulder blades. Once they had settled, Zangetsu gently closed his wings over the humans encasing them in darkness and an atmosphere for rest. Zangetsu began walking and started humming a deep gentle rhythm from deep in his chest.

"Not again." Karin whispered as her eyes became very heavy. Toushiro sat up beside her looking down then around at the wings.

"What is it?" Toushiro asked as he too became sleepy feeling the rhythm vibrating into his bones.

"He's lulling us to sleep." Karin yawned turning over onto her side and going to sleep.

"What?" Toushiro laid back down and closed his eyes in sleep and followed Karin into a restful slumber.

"They finally went to sleep." Zangetsu stated to Hyourinmaru.

"That's good. Now we can pass the entrance without any fear of being discovered." Hyourinmaru sighed in relief then continued in silence.

"Hyourinmaru, what do you plan on telling Ryuujin Jakka when you meet with him?" Zangetsu asked up to Hyourinmaru. The ice dragon sighed with frustration - the truth is he had no idea what he needed to say.

"I'm not sure at the moment." Hyourinmaru answered.

"You'll have to think of something. I'm not sure what he will do when he learns of our union with the humans." Zangetsu stated to his old friend. Of all the dragons alive, Ryuujin Jakka was the oldest and most powerful with his age come great wisdom. All of the dragons looked to him for guidance during difficult times very similar to these times. Hyourinmaru needs to be very careful with how he spoke to Ryuujin. Ryuujin would listen until Hyourinmaru was finished but there was no way to tell how he would react after he learned everything. Hyourinmaru fell into silence as they came closer to the entrance. Zangetsu let Hyourinmaru have his peace so he continuedn silence until it started bothering him.

"I wonder how much the Katen sisters have changed over the years?" Zangetsu mumbled to Hyourinmaru.

"I would not expect them to have changed much in these last forty years." Hyourinmaru answered to Zangetsu as they turned a bend in the path.

"How far do we have to go before we reach the entrance of the Ryu-Manako?" Zangetsu asked Hyourinmaru since they had been walking for a little over an hour and fifteen minutes. In the three hundred years, the only dragon to have passed through the land path has been Hyourinmaru.

"We are more than halfway to the entrance. There is about thirty more minutes to reach the entrance." Hyourinmaru explained as they continued.

"What will we say if Hana happens to ask why we are walking through the entrance?" Zangetsu brought up a very good point – no dragon walks long distances unless it is absolutely necessary. No doubt Hana would ask about the dragons walking into the Ryu-Manako.

"We could say your wing was injured." Hyourinmaru glanced back hearing Zangetsu growl in irritation.

"Well, we have the evidence that your wing is injured. We don't have to mention that you are able to fly. More dragons have been grounded upon receiving lesser injuries." Hyourinmaru reasoned and he had a good excuse. It was normal for dragons to travel in pairs especially for scouting dragons, also a dragon will not leave an injured companion behind. The plan was solid and there would be no questions regarding their traveling along the land path.

"Oh alright, just don't tell anyone. It's embarrassing enough that I was grounded even for a moment by a human child." Zangetsu complained growling back to the humans sleeping under his wings.

"You can't change what happened so it is best to forget it." Hyourinmaru stated as they traveled on the final stretch of the path. He paused for a moment and watched the straight path leading to the entrance. If a dragon had good enough eyes, then they could see an entrance with two ledges and a purple mound residing on each ledge – the Katen sisters.

"Let's go." Zangetsu stated agreeing to the plan for entering the valley.

Zangetsu followed Hyourinmaru walking down the path nearing the entrance with each massive step. When the pair of dragons was a few hundred feet to the entrance a small purple dragon dropped down swinging a spike tipped fan at the tip of the tail defensively above the spread wings as it crouched low.

"Who goes there?" The small purple dragon growled showing her sharp teeth taking a step toward the travelers her tail constantly waving prepared for any possible attack.

"It is Hyourinmaru and Zangetsu." Hyourinmaru responded to the guard.

"Hyourinmaru and Zangetsu," the petite dragon leapt onto the wall crawling higher to take a good look at the pair, her tail constant swinging with the sunshine glinting off the edge of each spike.

"Why do you enter through the land passage?"

"Hana Katen, we enter through the land passage because Zangetsu has been rendered flightless due to a severe injury to his wing. He needs a safe place to rest until his recovery is complete." Hyourinmaru explained to the guard as her gaze passed from the ice dragon in front to the black dragon in the rear. She crawled along the wall moving past Hyourinmaru to get a good look at Zangetsu. Zangetsu watched her carefully; his shielded eye remained neutral while Hana inspected them carefully.

"It appears that your wing has been damaged." Hana craned her neck closer to his wings and spotted the injury on his joint. Even though it had started to heal, the wound still looked very painful.

"Sadly, yes." Zangetsu answered looking up at the Katen guard of the day.

"I can see your ability to fly has been temporarily relieved." Hana explained as she gave one final long look at his folded wings and made her decision.

"I give you permission to pass." Hana flew to the ledge in a blur her surprising speed reminded the dragons how deadly she and her sister could be.

"Thank you, Hana Katen." Hyourinmaru humbly thanked her bowing his head as he walked through the entrance under Hana's ever watchful gaze.

"Thank you," Zangetsu bowed his head following Hyourinmaru safely into the valley. Zangetsu knocked a stone sending it into the wall with a loud crack. He heard a groan and a snort from a purple dragon with a bone crest above his head then he saw the dragon peer down with a single turquoise eye. After another snort, the head of the dragon returned to the ledge with another groan and she returned to a deep sleep. Zangetsu breathed a sigh of relief when Dokura went back to sleep and he walked a little faster hoping to avoid any more encounters with the more deadly guard.

"That was close." Hyourinmaru spoke up walking into a lush valley where several more dragons flew in the sky and more lounged on the rocks and in the trees. All dragon heads stared at Hyourinmaru followed by Zangetsu walking into the valley.

"HEY, HYOURINMARU!" A small green dragon flew down to the two dragons entering the valley landing in a fluid motion at their feet. This dragon was very small and thin with long slim wings and a row of spikes running down his neck to just above the shoulders and wings.

"Hello, Hebi Zabimaru." Hyourinmaru greeted the smaller dragon. Hebi ran past Hyourinmaru to stare up at Zangetsu as he followed the ice dragon.

"Hey, why did the two of you walk into the valley? Usually you fly here." Hebi noted to the pair looking up at Zangetsu's folded wings, he didn't notice the black dragon tense slightly at his closer inspection.

"Zangetsu was wounded close to this area and he needs a safe place to rest. There is no safer place for dragons than Ryu-Manako." Hyourinmaru explained this satisfied the younger dragon's curiosity.

"Fine with me but you will have to explain that to Saru." Hebi scampered further into the valley with the older dragons following closely behind.

"What do we tell her, Hyourinmaru?" Zangetsu asked, he knew Saru was not nearly as easy to please. Saru is not pleased with any dragon that enters the valley on foot since she sees this as an insult and possible deception.

"We tell her the same thing as Hebi we have the proof of your injury." Hyourinmaru reasoned to his friend, but this did not calm him. If anything he grew more worried. It's not telling Saru that was the problem, but it was telling her AND hiding the humans - that was the problem.

…………

Rangiku was leaving the Kurosaki house with Captain Kyoraku after they had eaten lunch with Yuzu. Rangiku stayed silent through the meal, she didn't trust herself to speak on the subject for fear of telling Yuzu the truth. Well, it wasn't a bad lie – Toushiro had written that they were safe and they would be back as soon as they could. Still, there was no way to know how long it would be for them to come back.

"I can't believe you lied to Yuzu like that." Rangiku harshly whispered to Captain Kyoraku as they walked out of sight of the house.

"Really? I had to say something. It's better than her staying up all night worrying about something she just can't change. Besides, like you said before Captain Hitsugaya is a strong young man and can take care of himself. Isn't that right?" Captain Kyoraku asked Rangiku walking on his left side down the street toward Chief Yamamoto's cabin.

"Yes, that's right. But, I just can't imagine someone lying to sweet, innocent, little Yuzu. She is far too innocent and trusting to be lied to." Rangiku complained again.

"What would you rather have: a happy Yuzu oblivious to the disappearance of her sister or a sad Yuzu worrying herself sick on something she has no way to change?" Shunsui looked to his side at Rangiku lifting his hat a little higher on his head to better hear her answer.

"I prefer a happy Yuzu. She doesn't need anything else to worry over since Ichigo is still in a coma." Rangiku admitted to her mind. From this argument, a lie was the better choice.

"I thought so." Captain Kyoraku agreed. He was leading Rangiku into Chief Yamamoto's office before she realized where they were.

"Now, let's go see what Chief Yamamoto can do about a search party." Captain Kyoraku smiled opening the cabin door for Rangiku.

"I hope he agrees." Rangiku whispered entering the cabin and watching Chief Yamamoto write up some papers.

"Hello, Chief Yamamoto!" Captain Kyoraku happily greeted the older man.

"Good afternoon to you Captain Kyoraku and Rangiku Matsumoto." Chief Yamamoto set his pen down giving the two in his office his full attention.

"What may I ask is the reason for this unexpected visit?"

"Chief Yamamoto, would it be too much to ask for a search party to be formed to look for Toushiro Hitsugaya and Karin Kurosaki?" Rangiku asked in hopes of his permission. Chief Yamamoto looked between the two in deep thought before he gave his answer.

"A search party may be sent out, however it must be set up by the army since Toushiro Hitsugaya is now a captain." Chief Yamamoto's answer surprised Rangiku.

"What does that mean?" Rangiku asked.

"It means that the search party will be made up of soldiers from the army headed by a captain." Captain Kyoraku answered for Rangiku.

"So who will be heading up the search?" Rangiku asked Captain Kyoraku.

"I was wondering that myself." Chief Yamomoto admitted to the Captain.

"The captain in charge of the search party will be Captain Kuchiki." Captain Kyoraku stated.

"Well if that's the case, then I'm going with you." Rangiku stated with confidence staring Captain Kyoraku in his eyes. Captain Kyoraku's eyes registered surprise then his gaze turned serious.

"I'm sorry, Rangiku, but there can be no civilians involved in the army search party."

"WHAT!" Rangiku shouted at Captain Kyoraku. He was surprised by her loud outburst but Chief Yamamoto was not.

"Rangiku this is to be expected with Captain Hitsugaya's position in the army." Chief Yamamoto stated to a still surprised Rangiku.

"But, Chief Yamamoto I have to be involved in this search I know Toushiro better than anyone and I can make sure we find them before too long. Please let me go." Rangiku stared at Chief Yamamoto begging him to allow her to go.

"I'm sorry, Rangiku, but that decision is out of my hands." Chief Yamamoto sadly admitted to the young woman.

"Well, I don't care if I'm allowed or not because I'm going and there's nothing you can do to stop me." Rangiku angrily stated as she began to storm off.

"Captain Kuchiki will not permit you to leave, Rangiku. He has allowed one law to be bent but I guarantee you he will not let another rule pass by. I'm sorry but there is nothing that I can do." Captain Kyoraku sadly exclaimed with his head bowed.

"There has to be something that can be done." Rangiku stated again, she just couldn't stand back and wait for the search party to return. She will not stand by waiting while someone else leaves to search for her charge. This is the second day that she has been waiting and she will NOT wait for a third.

"I'm sorry there is nothing." Chief Yamamoto confirmed her fears.

"Listen to me, Captain Kyoraku." Rangiku glared at him with a growl in her voice. "I am going with that search party whether Captain Kuchiki wants me to or not." Rangiku growled again at the captain.

"If you try that, then Captain Kuchiki will arrest you before you can step out of your house for obstructing an officer with an official mission." Captain Kuchiki warned her but she ignored him.

"I don't care if he throws me in jail or threatens to banish me! I will go with you to look for Toushiro Hitsugaya and I DARE anyone to try and stop me!" Rangiku threatened to him once again.

While they were arguing, Chief Yamamoto was stroking his beard in deep thought. Rangiku Matsumoto is a master kido expert just as well as Captain Hitsugaya. In fact, it was Rangiku that began training Toushiro as soon as he graduated. Since that time three years ago, she has improved and showed her teaching skills to be equal to no other person in the village.

"Rangiku, perhaps I can give you some advice." Chief Yamamoto stopped her from yelling at Captain Kyoraku once again.

"Yes, Chief Yamamoto, what is it?" Rangiku asked.

"You are not allowed to join the search party because you are a civilian. Is that correct, Captain Kyoraku?" Chief Yamamoto waited for him to nod his head in agreement.

"Well, then I see a very simple solution to this dilemma." His words surprised both Rangiku and Captain Kyoraku.

"You do?" They both asked at the same time.

"Yes I do." Chief Yamamoto looked toward Rangiku and offered his advice.

"The only way I can see for you to join the search party is to join the Sereitei army." Chief Yamamoto explained to the pair. All Rangiku could do for the moment was blink in surprise.

"Do you think she would be any good?" Captain Kyoraku asked infuriating Rangiku into slapping his cheek producing yet another hand print on his left side. He glared over at her as she huffed giving her full attention to Chief Yamamoto.

"I know she would be a great asset. You remember how Princess Shihoin was very impressed with Captain Hitsugaya's abilities. Well, it was Rangiku Matsumoto who trained Captain Hitsugaya and she is the reason his kido skills are so far advanced. Rangiku's kido abilities are on the same level as Captain Hitsugaya and she is a wonderful teacher. I know she would be a great asset especially with training the soldiers for battle." Chief Yamamoto explained; Rangiku could not help but blush at his compliments toward her abilities and the pride she could hear in his voice.

"Is that so?" Captain Kyoraku looked Rangiku over. She wore a red kimono with a black sash around her waist and brown flat sandals. By the looks of her, no one would ever guess that she was a kido expert; then again he thought the same about Toushiro when they first met. It didn't take Shunsui long to figure out Toushiro was far more skilled and stronger than his age appeared.

"Yes it is." Chief Yamamoto calmly answered.

"Well, what do you say, Rangiku? Do you want to be in the army?" Captain Kyoraku asked the strawberry blonde. After a moment of thought Rangiku heartily agreed.

"Yes, I will. On one condition," Rangiku waited until Captain Kyoraku was listening, "I want to be under Toushiro Hitsugaya's lead. After this little escapade, I won't let him out of my sight - he is still a thirteen year old boy after all." Rangiku exclaimed. Captain Kyoraku smiled at her answer.

"Very well then, but I must say the only way to stay with Captain Hitsugaya is for you to be his second in command." Captain Kyoraku smiled when Rangiku nodded her head.

"I don't have a problem with that and if anyone tries to take my place, then I will beat them back into a lower position." Rangiku fiercely stated with fire burning in her eyes and a spark of kido engulfing her enclosed fist.

"Alright, it's good to have you on the team Lieutenant Matsumoto." Captain Kyoraku proudly welcomed her and she smiled back to him.

"Now, when does the search party leave?" Rangiku asked the two. Captain Kyoraku blinked and began wondering if she realized what she had just gotten herself into since her mind was focused only on finding Toushiro Hitsugaya.

………………………

Zangetsu followed Hyourinmaru deeper into the valley after meeting Hebi Zabimaru. Hyourinmaru turned toward Zangetsu walking back to him to speak when they reached a clearing beside a mountain cliff and a cool stream running nearby.

"Zangetsu, wait here while I go talk to Ryuujin Jakka." Zangetsu nodded his head and Hyourinmaru leaned in closer so he could whisper to his friend.

"And make sure the humans stay asleep." Hyourinmaru reminded the black dragon. After a swift nod of Zangetsu's head, Hyourinmaru flew to the other side of the valley and soared into a massive cave.

Inside the cave, Hyourinmaru was able to fully stretch his long wings to their full span as he flew deeper. Hyourinmaru noticed the further he flew, the hotter it became until he could hear deep breathing with the shadow of a fire blazing with each breath on the far wall of an even larger cavern. Hyourinmaru landed on the rock floor and began walking to the entrance of the cavern where he stopped. At the cavern entrance, Hyourinmaru softly roared hearing the cry echo in the cavern returning to him many times stronger.

The shadow on the wall disappeared only to be replaced with a large Chinese dragon with red hair bursting with flame running down from his head to the tip of his tail. This is Ryuujin Jakka, he was more than two times Hyourinmaru's size and one flap of his wings could set flame to an entire forest. His fur spurted in flames along his back with fire peeking out of his nose as he wakened from his nap.

Hyourinmaru, what is the reason for your call? Ryuujin's question came in spurts of fire along his back at various positions as he spoke telepathically with the young ice dragon.

"I have come to seek your advice, great Ryuujin." Hyourinmaru gave a small bow as he waited for Ryuujin to respond.

What advice do you seek? Ryuujin asked with several more spurts of fire erupting along his mane and nostrils.

"Zangetsu and I have discovered some most troubling news regarding our war with the gargoyles." Hyourinmaru began waiting as Ryuujin nodded his head for him to continue.

"They have begun to walk during the day and cause more attacks. Sadly these attacks have been blamed on dragons - even after three hundred years humans still see us as dangerous." Hyourinmaru paused as he collected his thoughts – should he tell Ryuujin of the humans or not? He was going to find out anyway, it would be far better to get everything out in the open so as not to incur his wrath.

"Zangetsu and I have encountered two young humans – a boy and a girl. We have begun to gain their trust and have aided us in collecting some vital information." Hyourinmaru continued when Ryuujin looked with one of his eyes widening – this was very interesting news.

"These humans have helped us to discover there is a force controlling the gargoyles in their attacks. It is unknown what this force is, but it would seem that their control is starting to wane. We have also discovered the gargoyles have a weakness – the masks they wear to allow them life during the day has a 48 hour time limit after which the mask will disintegrate and the gargoyles will be reverted back to statues." Hyourinmaru ended his report to the elder dragon who became increasingly more intrigued with this new information.

How have the humans aided you and Zangetsu? Ryuujin asked with more fire spurting along his back.

"It appears the gargoyles are being controlled by a whistle in the hands of the masters. A whistle that, Zangetsu nor I were able to hear, but the humans are able to hear it. The human girl has an interest in aiding our kind and the boy has shown interest as well." Hyourinmaru explained.

Do you trust these humans, Hyourinmaru? Ryuujin asked the ice dragon. All dragons knew that Hyourinmaru did not give his trust to just anyone – his trust had to be earned and there have been few dragons and, so far, no humans that could earn it.

"Yes, elder Ryuujin, I do trust them." Hyourinmaru answered with confidence. He did trust them when they showed to be different than most other humans. The last people to treat the dragons as allies were the Ishida clan and sadly that clan was slowly killed off over the many decades.

Where are the humans now? Ryuujin asked causing Hyourinmaru to hesitate in answering.


A/N: Here is chapter 9 and like I promised they are finally in Ryu-Manako. How did you like this chapter?

Did I describe the Katen sisters' reactions like they would have reacted?

I want to thank everyone for your sweet reviews, you have no idea how much they help.

THANK YOU!!

A/N2: Because I haven't been putting this in the previous chapters:

Disclaimer: This fanfiction is inspired by Dreamworks' How To Train Your Dragon.